Eothasia

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The Unét Eothasi Nórië [translation: United Eothasi Empire], also alternatively referred to as the Unét Nórië, the UEN, or Eothasia, is a meritocratic hierarchy composed of seven territorial divisions named Teyrnirs, as well as one federal district (the capital city of Elidani). The Unét Nórië is a large nation at over 1,500,000 square kilometers and with a population numbering over one hundred and twenty million residents. It occupies the entirety of its subcontinent, known locally as Mélamandor, Eothasi for “Homeland.” The country is surrounded by vast oceans on all sides, including the Marazine Ocean to the north and west, and the Sea of Huhxyitan to the east across from the modern-day country of Tzonaxiqal.

Historically, the Unét Nórië has been characterized by a very potent isolationism in all things foreign, from trade to political relations. This isolationism prevailed for many centuries after the creation of the Unét Nórië, and was only curbed following Duvaineth’s ascension to the Circle of Magisters.

It is presently unclear from where the inhabitants of the subcontinent of Mélamandor hail, as the Eothasi, as they are known, are biologically peculiar in comparison to the inhabitants of the surrounding lands.

Etymology

It is unclear where the term “Eothasia” first emerges, although it has been found that it appears several hundred years prior to the creation of the first country to control the entire subcontinent, the Eothasi Confederation. The first registered appearance of name is from -12:44, in an epic written by famous classical novelist and poet Fidena en Anailin. However, historical accounts of her works and their popularity within Eothasi societies at the time indicate that it was unlikely she was the first to coin the name, rather implying she utilized a common phrase to refer to those inhabiting Mélamandor.

Some scholarly studies have (inconclusively) concluded that the term Eothasia originates from the island of Epyrus, today one of the seven teyrns of the Unét Nórië. It is believed that Epyrus named the subcontinent this way after its leader, Eothomas, who first led Epyrussian armies onto the mainland and began conquering what would eventually become the First Epyrussian Empire. This is uncertain, as it is believed that certain texts found prior to the ascension of Eothomas to the Epyrussian crown already mention this subcontinent, despite their authenticity having been brought into question multiple times.

Alternatively, it is noted at which point the name Mélamandor came into common use. It was not at all present prior to the creation of the Eothasi Confederation in 0:0, as it was the name established precisely by the Confederation to refer to the subcontinent itself, as opposed to the nation.

History

Eothasia enters recorded history as a land populated by the Eothasi, a subspecies of humanity prevalent to only this continent and only seen elsewhere in those locations to where the Eothasi have since migrated. Though modern science has permitted the discovery of the differences that lead to the current Eothasi subspecies, it is unclear when or why this occurred. Most importantly, it is unknown when the Eothasi first occupied the continent, as it is believed that they are not inherently natives of their land.

The recorded history of the dozens of kingdoms and empires that spanned Mélamandor is rich most notably in war and violence. Tales of glorious conquests of national foes are explicitly depicted in elaborate monuments erected in a variety of different locations, such as those in Aertys, the capital of Epyrus, which vividly show the conquests of the First, Second, and Third Epyrussian Empires, or the ruins of ancient cities in modern-day Nirand, carefully preserved as national landmarks. Though the Second Epyrussian Empire was the first to span from the eastern coast to the western coast (and the Edessan Empire the first from north to south), to date the entirety of the continent has been in control of a single nation only once, in the Unét Eothasi Nórië; a special note should be made for the Eothasi Confederation, which was the first supranational body that governed over the entirety of the continent.

Prehistoric Periods

Historical data for the subcontinent of Mélamandor goes back as far as -359:91, of which the standardized equivalent is 35,191 years Before the Common Era. This is when the first anatomical Eothasi first emerged. Evidence appears to indicate that, during this period, anatomical humans coexisted on Mélamandor with the Eothasi, although it is unclear if cross-species mating occurred. In any event, by -271:74, humans had all but evaporated from the subcontinent. The exact reasons for this disappearance are still unknown, although it is theorized that they were either annihilated by the Eothasi themselves or failed to mate and match the endurance of the Eothasi.

The prehistoric Eothasi were largely a nomadic species, with intense organizational structures amongst their tribes based on the merits of the individuals. Hunters, gatherers, and foragers were not separated by gender or other arbitrary features, but rather, but the individual skills young Eothasi demonstrated. This level of meritocratic organizational structure is key to understanding prehistoric Eothasi , as it was from this that they managed to gather, hunt, and feed the large populations that their tribes usually entailed.

There was very little technological progress recorded on the subcontinent throughout this period until roughly -37:00, or 2900 years Before the Common Era. It is in this period that the Neolithic Revolution first arrived Mélamandor, and radically changed the way in which the Eothasi lived. The widespread discovery of agriculture on the subcontinent allowed the tribes to settle in key locations with fertile soil and brought about the increased meritocratic specialization of the Eothasi populations, which grew exponentially.

The Neolithic Revolution not only increased Eothasi populations and trade, creating communities where there had previously been hunting groups roaming the land, but it also brought about the first inklings of written language and the first known civilization, settled near the modern city of Lithyr, in Edessan, known only as the Essë. Finally, the Neolithic brought about the beginning of what is known today as the Bronze Age.

Bronze Age

The first well-known civilization in Mélamandor was that of the Essë. They occupied lands in the central northern portion of the nation, near the modern city of Lithyr. The Essën civilization expanded from the vast green plains that surrounded them, flourishing under the new agricultural techniques discovered in the Neolithic Revolution. It is believed that the Essë first arose in the 25th Ialë B.U., and it is suggested that they lasted several hundred years, at least until the 19th Ialë B.U. They were first discovered in the early 11th Ialë by famed archaeologist Marolen en Ennorath. Evidence suggests that the Essë’s collapse was brought about by the conquest of other, more powerful civilizations.

After the fall of the Essë, dozens of civilizations began to emerge across the subcontinent. Some, much like their earlier counterparts, settled and became traders and promoted the first commercial partnerships on the subcontinent. Others were far more violent and established their dominance over other civilizations through war and conquest.

The most important civilization to emerge following the fall of the Essë was the Tatamolan civilization, in the 17th Ialë B.U., settled in the desert plains of Eothasia, with their capital erected slightly over two hundred kilometers east of the modern city of Viladell. They wrested control over much of Eothasia from other, smaller groups through force, wielding notable military strength against them. They were the first civilization of somewhat notable size, spanning from their capital in the desert to the shores of Newdell to their north, as far west as Viladell and as far east as the Linórë Rift, which today forms the border between Linórë and Lossoré.

Despite their strength and size, however, by the 15th Ialë B.U. the civilization began a steep decline until it was finally conquered by smaller groups in the early 14th Ialë B.U. This new Ialë was characterized by the appearance of the first large imperial civilization, the First Epyrussian Empire.

Antiquity

The Era of Antiquity, as it is commonly referred to, was intricately marked by a number of important civilizations as well as the subcontinent's first imperial powers. These include civilizations such as the First Epyrussian Empire, which was the first imperial power, the Edessan Empire, which spanned from the northern coast to the southern coast, the Second Epyrussian Empire, which spanned from west to east, and lastly, the Taethysian Empire, which became the longest lasting empire in Eothasi history. Other notable powers include the Third Epyrussian Empire (which was the shortest lived of the three), the Empire of Nirand, and the various republics that confederated in Caellad.

First Epyrussian Empire

The First Epyrussian Empire originated in the city of Aertys, the capital of the Empire and the modern capital of the Teyrnir of Epyrus. The civilization first emerged in the mid-to-late 14th Ialë B.U., although the cities that incorporated the empire had existed for at least another hundred years prior. Under the rule of Empress Arnola, these cities were bound together in the subcontinent's first empire.

Records show that these cities first established a confederation and, initially, maintained their own governance and internal security forces, as well as their own treasuries. However, they all made contributions to a united military, agreed trade with one another, and became intrinsically linked. However, Aertys—because of its considerable size in comparison to the rest of the cities prior to the confederation—was viewed as the strongest. This was most fervently realized under Empress Arnola, who imprisoned the entirety of the united army and marched her own into each of the city states, conquering them all swiftly. Within just a short set of years, she had conquered the entirety of the island of Epyrus. Though it is implied she had plans to eventually begin conquering the surrounding islands and invade the island of Taethys, she was killed by her son, Eothomas, before she was able to realize her plans.

Within the first year of being ascended as emperor, Epyrussian military forces began conquering new lands, most notably the islands to the north and east of Epyrus. Over the following decade, the Epyrussian military continued its military campaigns, conquering much of southern Taethys and the southern tips of the subcontinent (modern day Nirand). The Epyrussian conquests were swift, and before the end of the 13th Ialë B.U., controlled most of Nirand, the southern half of Taethys and all its surrounding islands, and had made inroads into Linórë.

The First Epyrussian Empire collapsed after the death of Eothomas, who was felled in battle during the First Siege of Ansari in -12:97. Though there had been much tension on the island of Epyrus since the late 14th Ialë B.U., it had largely been suppressed by Eothomas and his armies, whilst others were silenced by the riches arriving from the eastern conquests. His death was followed by a marked increase in insurrectionist activity, which culminated in the murder of Eothomas’ heir apparent, Duinenor, during his coronation. This event sparked a civil war on the island, and troops were recalled from Epyrussian holdings, leaving behind only token garrisons, which were then themselves conquered by liberationists in the occupied territories.

The civil war continued for at least two decades, and at its end, all cities lay in ruin, most intensely of which was Aertys, the first imperial capital, which had been under siege for nearly four years before the war ended.

Edessan Empire

The Edessan Empire emerged following the collapse of the First Epyrussian Empire from the Kingdom of Edessan. Prior to its expansionist period, it spanned from the Taethysian channel in the east across to the Norcrestan Peninsula; all of this would be maintained in the Edessan Empire, as would a path through the center of Eothasia to the Driesh Sea in Nirand. It was the first empire in the history of the subcontinent to span from north to south.

To its south, the weakened states that had been occupied by the First Epyrussian Empire were left in ruin by the revolutionary conflict that sprout from the death of Emperor Eothomas. Even before the public murder of Duinenor, the Kingdom of Edessan began minor conquests into Linórë. When civil war broke on the island of Epyrus, a full invasion began and swept down the entire subcontinent. The conquest was brisk, and before the end of the decade, Edessan territory had been almost doubled.

The Edessan Empire achieved its maximum extension under Empress Allethia. By then, the nation had become the single-most powerful empire on the subcontinent and was unrivalled in military project, economic strength and political influence. Its courts held dignitaries from dozens of smaller kingdoms seeking clemency from their strongest neighbor. Its strategic geographical location made it impossible for trade to flow without coming into contact with the Edessan tariff authorities, whether it be through land or at sea.

It was the Edessan Empire that beat down the rebellious republics in Caellad and established puppet states, and threatened Taethys with invasion if it did not withdraw military forces from the Taethysian channel and permitted free travel for all Edessan warships. In every sense of the word, the Edessan Empire became a hegemony.

And so, it is especially shocking to historical scholars that the Edessan Empire’s downfall came in less than five years. Very little data exists on the exact circumstances that led to the weakening of the Edessan border, but what is known for certain is that the city of Norcrest was ransacked and by-then-abdicated Empress Allethia and her successor, Empress Vestelle, were beheaded in the city plaza, as per the tales collected in various poets’ works in the following decades.

Current theories on the fall of the Edessan Empire center on its military. Given the size of the empire, the Edessan population was alarmingly small; as such, the military was also of reduced proportions. The Edessan Empire attempted to circumvent this issue by the conscription of young children from occupied cities of their empire, but even then their military was unable to cope with the large military demands of a country of their size.

The Edessan Empire is the third longest-lasting empire in the history of Eothasia, after the Second Epyrussian Empire and the Taethysian Empire. Today, it is said that the rise of the Edessan Empire began in -12:95, with the first wave of invasions all across Linórë, and ended with the fall of Norcrest in -10:91.

Geography

The total land area occupied by the Unét Nórië is approximately 1,500,000 square kilometers, or 580,000 square miles. Apart from the seven teyrnirs of the Unét Nórië, all of which are contiguous, the Unét Nórië boasts a number of overseas territories collected into the Colonial Realms. These territories are largely spread throughout the world, with the largest—Mythenas—occupying roughly 110 square kilometers.

The highest mountain in the Unét Nórië stands at roughly 2,187 meters, or 7,175 feet, tall. It is located in the southeastern region of Caellad, and takes the name Mount Taetrus, after the explorer that discovered the mountain.

The Unét Nórië is divided by a number of very distinct geographical and topographical features. Most notable of these are the so-called Living Plains, which expand from as far north as Yelista to the southern coast of the subcontinent. This set of vast plains separates the Indros mountain range in the west from the Asteria deserts to the east. Meanwhile, the northern coast is characterized by its intense cold and tundra, while the southeast differs from the rest of the southern coast in that it is the largest mountain range in the Unét Nórië, precisely where Mount Taetrus is found.

While there are a number of rivers throughout Eothasia, especially in the Asteria Desert, there are few rivers of global popularity. Despite this, however, they helped settle a number of cities in the desert, most notably Viladell. Alternatively, the Unét Nórië boasts an enormous lake to the east with an equally impressive island, known as the Nenárlona island, where the city of Nenárlona can be found. On the other side of the subcontinent, separating the teyrnir of Taethys from the rest of the nation, is the Taethysian Channel. This thick extension of water is crucial historically for Taethys, and in the modern day, is an important trade route to the interior of the country.

Wildlife

The Unét Nórië is considered to be a megadiverse biosphere. There are over 21.000 identified species of plants in Mélamandor, and another 700 can be found in the diverse colonies of the Colonial Realms. It is home to nearly 600 mammal species, over 1200 avian species, 400 reptile species, and nearly 500 amphibian species. Apart from this, nearly 100.000 insect species have also been identified. The most characteristic of these species is the Eothasi Firefox, which is the national animal and a symbol of the country itself.

There are over 240 national parks of varying sizes, with thousands of other parks, reserves, wilderness areas, and others. Most of these lands are protected against exploitation, including mining, drilling, urban development, and other types of invasive constructions.

Environmental Issues

The Unét Nórië has a number of important environmental issues to tackle, though the government has been active in establishing appropriate reactive and future preventive measures for these issues. Oil and coal, though no longer used as part of the energy production of the Unét Nórië, are still frequently drilled and mined for exports and other products, which causes a number of environmental concerns, most notably oil spills where they could affect native wildlife species. Additionally, the use of inertial confinement fusion has been a matter of debate for many years, despite it being the main source of energy production in the Unét Nórië.

Other issues to deal with are deforestation, the economic cost of protecting wildlife, and water and air pollution. The Eothasi government has established a number of federal agencies to tackle these issues promptly. The largest environmental agency in the Unét Nórië is the Eothasi Wildlife Initiative, which ensures the protection of wildlife reserves as well as endangered animals.

Demographics

Government

The Eothasi government is the national government of the Unét Eothasi Nórië. It is composed of seven teyrnirs, a realm encompassing all colonial holdings, and a federal district in which the nation’s capital of Elidani resides. It has a clear division of power in legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with power vested by the Eothasi Constitution in the Imperial Court, the Circle of Magisters, and the Eothasi Courts, respectively. Additionally, each branch can create a number of committees, departments, and sub-courts to carry out their duties.

Apart from the federal government in Elidani, the government is also partitioned into more local levels: the Vexians and the Teyrns.

Vexians

Vexian Councils are the first governmental step within the Unét Nórië, centered around the governance of individual cities. There are no prior requirements to ascend to Vexian; however, in order to become one, one of the members of the Congress (or the Senate) for the Teyrn to which they belong must nominate them to the Vexian Council. This is usually done by holding elections in the city to see who of the available candidates most aptly represents the citizens; these individuals then get nominated by the members of the Court to their city’s Vexian councils.

From here, members of the Vexian Council will choose members among themselves (in the event that a new seat is left vacant by a previous member of the Court) to represent their teyrn at Court. This is usually done at a collective level from metropolitan areas to adequately represent the population whilst avoiding an overpopulation of candidates or an awkward distribution of candidates to cities.

The Vexian Councils themselves are the representatives of the citizens of a city. It is their duty to undertake actions that reflect the desires of the populace and implement the measures they find most appropriate to achieve those desires. Furthermore, all the Vexians of a teyrn (which can vary radically, from just 80 in Epyrus to over 700 in Nirand) form what is known as the Vexian Congress, which is the equivalent of the Imperial Court at teyrniral level.

It is paramount that the Vexian Council be active in communication with its citizens, as bi-annual elections have been known to destroy the political careers of many aspiring Vexians.

Teyrnirs

The entirety of the Unét Nórië is divided into seven teyrnirs, as well as the “eighth,” the Colonial Realms. As such, this is one of the most important offices to hold in the Unét Nórië. The members presiding over the teyrnirs, be they teyrn or teyrna, are selected jointly by the Magisters from the available Speakers. Because it is infrequent to switch teyrns at the teyrnirs, this is sufficient to occupy all offices. In the event of a catastrophic event in which more than two teyrns were to perish, however, the Magisters are simply to choose from the set of available members of the Court.

The teyrnirs are the largest divisions into which the Unét Nórië is organized. They have their own set of judges and courts, police forces, investigative units, budgetary accounts, with their own congresses and semi-autonomous governments. By all accounts, they are essentially nations, autonomous in many ways, but still under the jurisdiction and leadership of the federal government in Elidani.

Imperial Court

The Imperial Court is, itself, a bicameral legislative branch. It comprises of the Imperial Congress, as the lower house, whilst the upper house is occupied by the Imperial Senate. The members are elected by popular vote of all Eothasi citizens, domestic and abroad. It should be noted that both chambers of the Imperial Court are elected not by the population, but by their appropriate Vexians, selected from other worthy Vexians.

Imperial Congress

The Imperial Congress consists of 435 members, separated amongst the different districts of the Unét Nórië. The number of representatives that each district is permitted within the Congress is proportional to the district’s population, as calculated by the nation’s most recent census. These representatives serve two-year terms in the Congress and can be elected for an unlimited number of non-consecutive terms (with a maximum of ten consecutive terms and a rest period of one term, unless they are ascended to Primagister, in which case no such limits exist). In order to form a part of the Imperial Congress, the individual must be of Eothasi birth and citizenship and must have obtained, at minimum, the Vexian citizenship tier.

It should be noted that the Colonial Realms are represented in the Congress, albeit by only five representatives, regardless of the size of the population of these realms. The city of Elidani is represented by two members.

Imperial Senate

The Imperial Senate is the upper house of the Imperial Court and is an integral part of the Eothasi government. It is formed by 200 members at present, with each of the seven teyrnirs being represented by twenty-five members regardless of their populations. The Colonial Realms are presented by fifteen members, and Elidani by ten. The members of the Senate are elected for eight-year terms, of which half are voted on every four years (Elidani and the Colonial Realms must necessarily coincide) That said, there are no term limits in the Imperial Senate.

In order to form a part of the Imperial Senate, the representative must necessarily be of Eothasi birth and citizenship and must have obtained, at minimum, the Vexian citizenship tier.

Powers of the Imperial Court

The Imperial Court has a number of important powers, with each house operating with different roles in these procedures. These are detailed in the following:

Legislature. The Imperial Court is the key branch for the creation and passing of new laws in the Unét Nórië. Proposed laws are made and submitted into the Imperial Congress first and then proceed into the Imperial Senate. They must be approved by a simple majority in both chambers in order for the law to be approved, requiring the Magisters' signature. Should they veto the bill, the Imperial Court can choose to ratify the bill, requiring 75% majority in both chambers.

Approval of Imperial Council Members. Though it is not explicitly necessary (and, indeed, members can be appointed to the Imperial Council without approval), it is tradition for the Imperial Senate to vote and approve the appointments made by the Magisters for Imperial Council members.

Centralization. Though theoretically an article exists within the Eothasi Constitution under which the Imperial Court assumes control of all similar powers in all teyrnirs, habitually this is not undertaken; each teyrnir is able to exercise their own powers over their jurisdiction (insofar as it does not contradict federal laws issued by the Court).

Appointment and Impeachment. The Imperial Court is the body that ratifies the ascension of a new Magisters to the Circle of Magisters. Furthermore, it retains the right to impeach and remove any and all federal officers from government. The two chambers serve different functions for this process; the Congress must first initiate and impeach the officer in question, and the Senate must then undergo a trial process under which the individual is removed from office if it so demands. The impeachment requires majority in the Congress, whilst removal from office requires 60% majority in the Senate. In the existence of the Unét Nórië, no federal officer has been impeached or removed by the Imperial Court.

Committees. The Imperial Court retains the right to create and establish committees and subcommittees for the undertaking of its duties, such as drafting legislation and policies, conducting investigations into national matters, etc. As of 12:36 A.U. (2036 C.E.), the number of committees operating under the Court supersedes two hundred.

Circle of Magisters

The Circle of Magisters has been the executive branch of the Unét Nórië since its establishment. It recognizes a number of officials with specific unisex titles: the Magisters—Eothasi equivalent for Emperor or Empress—and the Varnis—the spouse of the Magisters, although their power is limited to awareness and visibility issues. Apart from this, the Imperial Council is also recognized, being a selection of secretaries specialized in their fields in order to provide the Magisters with the most accurate information and programs at their disposal.

Magisters

Incumbent Junior Magister Valerius Eäron

Incumbent Varni Syrilla Eäron

The Magisters are the highest executive officers of the Unét Nórië. The executive branch of government consists of three Magisters and those to whom they choose to delegate their powers, commonly referred to as the council. The Magisters act as both a collective head of state and of government for the Unét Nórië, as well as chief diplomat and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The duty of the Magisters is to ensure that the laws are executed in a faithful manner, as well as protect and preserve the integrity of the Eothasi Constitution.

The Magisters are elected not by the people, but by hierarchical and meritocratic ascension in the Unét Nórië. The Magisters are three individuals that have risen through the ranks and achieved the Primagisters citizenship tier, which can number a maximum of one hundred individuals. When a magister perishes, another is selected by the Imperial Court and active members of the Circle of Magisters from the pool of Primagisters candidates. These magisters theoretically (and also largely in practice) are of equal status; however, the most senior magister often act as a supervisor.

The magister system was designed and developed in order to allow a more representative head of state to rule the country. That said, each magister is assigned a set of departments in accordance with their skillset; it is the job of the Imperial Court to ensure that the Circle of Magisters is sufficiently specialized in all fields to adequately handle the situations that the Unét Nórië will face.

The Magisters may pass a bill or they may veto it and prevent it from becoming law (insofar as 75% of both chambers agree to the ratification). They may unilaterally sign treaties with other countries or with international organizations without the ratification of either the Senate or the Congress (although if 60% of both reject the treaty, it is denied).

The Magisters may be impeached by the Imperial Court if it so deems it, and if all necessary procedures are adequately followed.

The Magisters may dissolve the Court and call elections if they enact a Decree of National Emergency that so necessitates it. They are able to pardon and release criminals convicted of offenses against the federal government, enact executive orders, appoint Supreme Court justices (with the support of the Court) as well as federal judges.

Primagisters

The Primagisters are a set of up to one hundred noteworthy members of the Imperial Court that are selected to be potential candidates to replace a magister in the event of one's perishing. Officially, they hold no additional powers over their colleagues in the Court, and are habitual members in government. As such, they are permitted all the rights as well as the obligations of all members of the Imperial Court.

Imperial Council

The daily enforcement and application of federal laws is in the hands of the federal departments, such as that of the Department of State or Department of Defense. These are created by the Imperial Court with specific jurisdictions, whether they be national or international. Currently, there are 24 departments in this council, each representative selected exclusively by the Magisters (although frequently, there are recommendations by the Imperial Court).

Apart from these departments, there are also independent agencies, such as the Eothasi Stellar Initiative, the Office of Strategic Naval Intelligence, and others.

Imperial Supreme Court

The Imperial Supreme Court is the highest federal court in the Unét Nórië. Established by the Eothasi Constitution, it has ultimate (and discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over federal and teyrniral court cases involving federal law. It is the final interpreter of federal law including the Eothasi Constitution. However, it does not have the power to decide nonjusticiable political questions, and the enforcement arm of the judicial branch is, in fact, the executive branch of government.

According to the federal statutes, the Supreme Court consists of eight associate justices to the Chief Justice of the Unét Nórië, nominated by the reigning Magisters and approved by the established Court. Once appointed, these justices have lifetime tenure, unless they retire, resign, or are ultimately deemed unfit to serve by the Imperial Court. Each justice has one vote, and it is unlikely to witness any number of cases in which the decisions taken are not unanimous, in accordance with their interpretation of the law.

The Supreme Court meets in the National Courthouse in Elidani.

Military

Eothasi soldier during training exercise

The Eothasi Armed Forces are the military forces of the Unét Nórië. It is tasked with defending the Eothasi Constitution and Eothasi citizens, as well as an expanded mandate of securing Eothasi interests abroad. The commander-in-chief of the Eothasi armed forces is the Circle of Magisters, collectively, with the Chiefs of Staff Directive acting as primary advisors.

The Eothasi military, as a part of the federal government, is organized and maintained by the Department of Defense, headquartered in the Auriel Defense Center located in Elidani. This includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and the Air Force. The Department of Defense is also in charge of the National Guard, a subsection of the National Security Service whose primary mandate is the protection of the Unét Nórië’s territory against threats, both foreign and domestic. During wartime, the entirety of the National Security Service is transferred from the Department of Strategic Homeland Defense to the Department of Defense.

Military service in the Unét Nórië is mandatory, though the initial beginning of service is not set. It is dependent on the actions of the individual in question; an individual can enlist of their own volition upon achieving the Citizenship Tier of Dírnaith. The mandatory conscription for all students not studying begins at Thalion, which usually coincides with the completion of the Tertiary Cycle of Education. Students that proceed to the University and Doctoral Cycles are granted waivers to complete their education before being drafted into the military as officers.

Military service begins with what is known as “boot camp,” officially known as Basic Combat Training. This training lasts twelve weeks and is separated into a number of different phases, each of which is dedicated to a different aspect of a future soldier’s life. After this, a soldier proceeds into Advanced Individual Training, which can last anywhere between 4 and 40 weeks, depending on the specialization.

Following military training, mandatory service continues for a total of two years before the soldier is able to return to civilian life if they so choose. If they wish to remain with the military, reenlistment options are available. It is important to note that soldiers that have not voluntarily enlisted or reenlisted cannot be deployed to combat zones outside the Unét Nórië unless a situation of national security presents itself. Deployment to any base within the boundaries of the Unét Nórië, including colonial holdings and protectorates, is permitted, as is deployment to military exercises with allies abroad.

Military spending in 12:18 rounds to nearly US$198 billion, approximately 5.04% of the Eothasi GDP.

Law Enforcement

Economy

Education

Public education in the Unét Nórië is under the express control of the Department of Education of the Eothasi government. Its main goal is to prepare the alumni professionally so that they may form an integral part of Eothasi society; a secondary goal is to integrate students into the societal behavioral patterns expected of them in Eothasia.

The curriculum for the public education system is controlled at a federal level in Elidani. This is then transmitted to the eight teyrnirs that form the Unét Nórië, which may then adjust the curriculum with some flexibility; however, this flexibility is important, as students will rely on the efficacy of the system to achieve the necessary citizenship tier that grants access to university.

The public education system is divided into cycles.

The first cycle through which the student must pass is the Primary Cycle. This cycle encompasses the time span between a student’s arrival into the education system (necessarily having celebrated their fifth birthday) and the rough beginning of their adolescence (at the age of eleven). This cycle is a generalized course to acustom students to mathematics, critical thinking, comprehension, analysis, and other key skills that will be used in future cycles and courses. In accordance with the citizenship tiers incorporated into Eothasi society, students frequently reach the tier of Attëyal, the third tier.

The second cycle through which the student must pass is the Secondary Cycle. This cycle encompasses some of the important formation years for the student, from the seventh to the tenth year of education. These four years are largely a stepping stone to identify the student’s strongest points and lead them in that direction. It is not precisely professional specialization, but it is where the options begin to be narrowed down. By the end of this cycle, it is expected that students will have achieved the sixth citizenship tier of Attëyar.

The third cycle is the Tertiary Cycle, encompassing from the tenth to the twelfth year of education. This cycle is arguably the most important cycle for the student, as it is where they are expected to progress the most. It is the cycle of professional specialization and where students most fervently search for their individual calling in life. This is also the first cycle from which students may decide to withdraw from further education if they so wish. This is unlikely in the first year of the Tertiary Cycle, however, as most students must at least reach the seventh tier of Dírnaith, upon which they can be enlisted into the Eothasi military. To pass the Tertiary Cycle, the students must have achieved Thalion citizenship tier.

After the Tertiary Cycle, students have two paths. They may accept the mandatory enlistment from the Eothasi military and serve their two obligatory service years, then returning to civilian life (or remaining if they so choose); or they may proceed to the next cycle of education.

This next cycle is known as the University Cycle. The number of years of education undertaken in the University Cycle varies greatly, although the average is roughly five. These are significantly more specialized years than those of the first three cycles of education, as the student will have already chosen a major and will study subjects directly related to that major. Though there is no tier necessary to complete the University Cycle, the student must have reached the twelfth citizenship tier in order to enter the next cycle, known as the Doctoral Cycle. It is here where a student achieves the internationally standardized Doctor’s degree, once completing their thesis and achieving the fifteenth tier.

Culture

Citizenship Tiers

The Unét Nórië’s population is separated between a number of citizenship tiers. Though in the eyes of the government in terms of rights, all citizens are equal, this is not the case in the meritocratic structure of the Eothasi government.

The citizenship tiers signify the prestige and place the individual holds within Eothasi society. The lower the tier, the less capable the person is viewed. Alternatively, the higher the tier, the more responsibilities are deposited in that person. Ascension through the tiers works in a similar fashion to military promotion: an individual (necessarily two ranks above you, except for the cases of Ciriáran and Lendë) must vouch for an ascension to a new citizenship tier following sufficient performance and display of skill and ability. Failure to adapt to a new citizenship tier, however, have dire consequences: the ascended individual loses their promotion, and the ascending individual loses one tier.

The Citizenship Tier system is introduced very early. Younglings entering their first years of education are already assigned their first citizenship tier; it is expected that before completing the Primary Cycle (the first six years of education), they must have reached the third citizenship tier. The end of the Secondary Cycle (from seventh to tenth) usually marks the ascension of another three citizenship tiers. The completion of the Tertiary Cycle (tenth to twelfth) necessitates the ascension to the eighth citizenship cycle; this also allows access to the University Cycle (which vary in years but average at five) and leads to the Doctoral Cycle. However, to undergo the Doctoral Cycle, the individual must have achieved the twelfth citizenship tier. To complete it, they must achieve the fifteenth.

Organized Citizenship Tiers

The military life of the individual runs parallel these tiers. Starting at the seventh citizenship tier, the individual may choose to enlist freely in the military, withdrawing from the Tertiary Cycle. Alternatively, if they do not achieve the seventh tier, they may withdraw from Tertiary education and live as civilians, though the jobs that accept such a tier are few.

In the military, those that enlist at tier seven or are drafted at tier eight after completing the Tertiary Cycle are ascended into the military as enlistees. Alternatively, those that complete the University or Doctoral Cycles then proceed to join a military academy of their choosing to create military officers.
After their two-year terms are exhausted, unless they decide to continue their military careers, they are reintegrated into the civilian population as reservists. For enlistees, it is expected that in these two years they will have reached the ninth tier; for officers, they most often reach the sixteenth. Alternatively, for those that remain, officers will continue to ascend the tiers until the twentieth, whilst the soldiers are sent to academies at the fourteenth tier to become officers.

Access to the government is possible starting at the twentieth tier. This first simple introduction to government is the Vexian Councils. From here, they can progress through the ranks until reaching the highest citizenship tier in the Unét Nórië: the tier of Magister, head of state and government, held by only three individuals at a time.

It’s important to note that temporary and permanent residents are not included in the citizenship tiers, although permanent residents are able to join the military. These residents of the Unét Nórië, officially referred to as “subjects,” theoretically have the same privileges and are able to work adequately in the Unét Nórië. In practice, however, it has been recorded that these individuals often have difficulties incorporating themselves into strict Eothasi society, largely because of the cultural differences. Although Eothasi are not naturally xenophobic, Eothasi culture is very strict and it is difficult for foreigners to adapt to these requirements.

Calendar

Though the Eothasi people and government understand and often use the internationally accepted calendar when speaking to people of another culture, it is widely known that Eothasia itself follows a slightly different calendar.

In Eothasia, days do not have names. Rather, only months do. What is common outside of Eothasia - “Next Thursday,” for example - is not used in Eothasia. Its equivalent would be to say the date of the month on which that day will fall, and then say the month. For instance, “The 15th of Pluitanis.” Weeks did not exist in Eothasia, although it has been recently adopted as a unit of measurement of time. “One week from now,” which indicates seven days.

The list of months and holidays (called “Annum”s in Eothasia) are as follow:

Verimensis (Annum: First Day)

Pluitanis

Nubulis (Annum: Wintersend)

Eluviesta

Molioris

Ferventis (Annum: Summerday)

Solis

Matrinalis (Annum: All Soul’s Day)

Parvulis (Annum: Unification Day)

Frumentum

Umbralis (Annum: Feast of Starlight)

Cassus (Annum: Satinalia)

First Day: The traditional start of the year, this holiday involves visits to neighbors and family, as well as a town gathering to commemorate the year past, accompanied by drinking and merriment.

Wintersend: This holiday is a celebration of Lavernia and her accomplishments. It stands for the end of winter in many lands and coincides with tourneys and contests at the Proving Grounds in Norcrest. In southern lands, this holiday has become a day of gathering for trade, theater, and ceremonies. Most, however, simply participate as a day of mere celebration.

Summerday: This holiday is universally celebrated as the beginning of summer, a time for joy and, commonly, marriage.

All Soul’s Day: This holiday is known across Eothasia as All Soul’s Day and spent in somber remembrance of the dead. In some northern lands, the people dress as spirits and walk the streets in parade after midnight.

Unification Day: This holiday is one that dates to -1:30 [770], Parvulis 30th, in which Eothasia united in order to defend itself from foreign invasion.

Feast of Starlight: Usually coinciding with the harvest of crops in the Unét Nórië, the Feast of Starlight is a week-long feast honoring Auriel and the stars in the sky, which are believed to be symbols of Auriel's eternal guarding of Eothasia.

Satinalia: This holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and carnivals [including games, including races, dancing contests, archery contests, and others] all across Eothasia. This holiday lasts an entire week, with the celebrations starting each night at 8pm and ending at around 4am.

The calculation of a year in Eothasia is also quite different. The calendar starts in the year 800 CE (international calendar), as the beginning of a new century after the decision to unite Eothasia. From then, the calendar began as 0:0. The first digit is the age; every age is one hundred years, and is the Eothasi equivalent to a Century. Specifically, the age counts how many centuries have passed since Eothasia first appeared as a unified nation. The second digit is the year of that Age. In the Eothasia Calendar, 12:0 is equivalent to 2000; 12:20 is 2020. This is all designated A.U., for After Unification. For the time before the establishment of Eothasia (or B.U., Before Unification), the digit of the age is set in negatives. For instance, the year 770 would be -1:30 in the Eothasi calendar.